I am somewhat in the minority here, but I actually prefer this one to the original. It is actually aware that it is stupid and, at least a few times, seems to be having fun. Tyrese is good at this sort of thing, unlike Paul Walker who is, I am convinced, actually just a giant flesh-covered tube of sawdust.
There is something rotten at the core of our culture when this movie can be so popular and spawn three sequels. It’s morals are completely upside down and it is downright gleeful in its artlessness. And it isn’t even funny or fun. Awful.
I strongly, strongly recommend this sci-fi/policer graphic novel. The concept (The Matrix meets Blade Runner meets Being John Malkovich meets MMOs meets “Everyone Needs A Thneed”….but, ultimately, none of those things) is awesome, well-thought out and, wisely, kept specific. This isn’t a story with a million great ideas stumbling all over one another. It is one concept riffed on til it makes sense. The art is subtle and terrific, too. Jonathan Mostow is directing the movie with Bruce Willis for later this year. Read this now so you can tell people the book is better.
Cute stuff. It’s not Pixar, but it’s close. I woulda liked more “B” elements, but it did have “Planet Claire” on the soundtrack. Full review on UGO later this week.
The ending? I bought it. I miss Battlestar already, but I’m glad it ended before it got too dumb. I’m gonna re-watch the whole thing in a year or so.
Purchased almost as a goof years ago for $1.99 at a used book shop. The cover you see in this pic is the cover on my edition. I thought it would be fun to read predictions of the “world of tomorrow” from the POV post-Sputnik/pre-Apollo. What is so amazing is just how much of this book is relevant – and how a few of the predictions (communications, mostly) have come true. But when Clarke gets into hardcore science you’ll see that the early 60s and now are, iPhones aside, quite similar.
This is a dazzling book. If you’ve ever read a reference to Clarke’s laws this is where they come from. Each chapter takes, basically, a tenant of fantasy or sci-fi (invisibility, time travel, AI) and presents a solid case as to how these things could actually happen. But there are nice, smart twists. Clarke’s inquiries never quite go where you expect them to go. And the dude’s funny. You don’t think of the author of 2001 as being funny, but he is.
There’s a lot of real science in here, but this is more readable than any textbook I remember. I hope this book is taught in schools.
Oh – and the edition I have, btw, was from the 80s, so there are some “from the present” footnotes. I’ve learned that there was an even more recent “millennium” edition which, had I known, I would have preferred to read.
Of all the directors making interesting films, Guillermo Del Toro is the least interesting.
I know that opinion puts me in the minority, but I have to be honest.
This movie is awful.
It looks great, though. Four stars to the effects and creatures. And I like the somewhat “normal”, un-superstar look of Selma Blair. Maybe a good flick to have on with the sound off, I dunno.
You’re joking.
An episode about people going to sleep…puts me to sleep.
There’s a half-hearted attempt at some Philip K. Dick-ish “what is real” stuff going on, but that kinda stuff isn’t in Trek’s repertoire. Points for trying, I suppose, but not a good ep.
There wasn’t a bone in my body not wishing this movie was awesome. Mailer directs himself as a brutal Irish cop? Well, this is an epic failure on narrative grounds but on “cinema experiment” grounds, too. The print I saw was such a disaster I could barely understand half of the ramblings. Worse than your average Warhol film.
Add my voice to the growing chorus of people rediscovering this film thanks to its Criterion re-release. Surely Alex Cox’s best film (certainly his most grand) it has all the humor of Altman, all the chaos of Gilliam and some healthy doses of political anger. Funny, but not a comedy, this twisted tale of industrial imperialism doesn’t have one boring scene, or one predictable beat. One could complain that Ed Harris’ performance gets cartoony, but once the 20th Century helicopters land this ceases to be a problem. Fantastic supporting cast, too, from a host of “hey, it’s that guy!” players.
Dukat and Sisko get trapped on a deserted island. Turns out Dukat is a jerk.
A bland documentary with one or two interesting clips.
Pretty damned good. Loses focus toward the end, but helluva job having a very large cast (with no known faces other than Statham) and making everything clear. I’m not ultimately sure what the point of the movie was, but I enjoyed it.
I know that I have an irrational affection for this movie, but I have a good reason for it. It made a strong impact on me as a child.
Watching it again, I really noticed how this is really just part one of a two part story. Such a shame that second film never got made. Would the whole endeavor have been better if it was David Lean shot it and not Donaldson? I dunno. I think Donaldson caught lightning in a bottle here. The weakest link is Mel Gibson’s performance, but they cut around it well and he does look damned good in states of undress.
Here’s what I thought the last time I watched it.
If it was anyone other than Amy Adams that grade would be much lower.
I love Amy Adams. She is incredibly talented. She can take the contrived, hack dialogue of this lame script and really sell her scenes. It is a minor miracle.
I just don’t know how a project like Sunshine Cleaning can attract the kind of talent it has. Makes me quite angry. I’ll have a fuller, more cogent review up in a few days.
I was kinda expecting some 30 Days of Night jazz, but this is a fairly simple tale of prepubescent friendship with some occasional bloodsucking. There are a lot of different ways to interpret the meaning of scenes. It is all tones – and some really particular environments. Reminiscent, a bit, of the films of Volker Schlondorff. The ending scene is seared into my brain as one of the most spectacular climaxes in recent times. Impressive all around, if you like quiet, little movies.
Quark, Rom, Nog, Cousin Galia, Brunt and some other dude must travel to Empok Nor to try and rescue Moogie with a daring Vorta prisoner exchange. Hilarity and Iggy Pop ensue.
